NBA Player News

Johnson delivered 15 points (5-7 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds, two steals and an assist in 25 minutes during Sunday's preseason win over the Bulls.

The veteran forward was locked in from downtown as the Nuggets' starting five all played at least 23 minutes in preparation for Opening Night. Johnson has never suited up for more than 66 regular-season games in a campaign as injuries have plagued him since being the 11th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he's been a valuable secondary scorer when healthy, averaging at least 12.2 points and 2.0 threes and shooting 39.0 percent or better from beyond the arc in each of the last five seasons.

Gordon dropped a team-high 25 points (9-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-5 FT) while adding six rebounds in 23 minutes during Sunday's preseason win over the Bulls.

Denver's starting five all played at least 23 minutes as the team gets ready for Opening Night, and while Gordon stepped up with a strong scoring effort, Nikola Jokic also appeared to be in midseason form with a triple-double. Gordon has had trouble staying on the court the last couple years, playing a combined 87 regular-season games in 2024-25 and 2025-26, but he's been healthy this preseason and is averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 boards and 2.0 threes in just 16.0 minutes across three exhibition contests.

Giddey scored seven points (1-3 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT) while adding eight assists, one rebound, one steal and one block in 24 minutes during Sunday's preseason loss to the Nuggets.

The 24-year-old guard didn't make his usual impact with his shot or on the glass, but Giddey did lead the Bulls in assists on the night. Through three exhibition contests, he's averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 dimes, 3.0 boards, 1.0 threes and 1.0 blocks in 23.3 minutes, but his track record suggests he'll again be a regular triple-double threat once his workload increases and the games begin to count -- his 13 triple-doubles in 2025-26 tied the Hawks' Jalen Johnson for second in the league, behind only Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic's 34.

Hield produced 15 points (4-7 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, two steals and an assist in 19 minutes off the bench during Sunday's preseason loss to the Nuggets.

The veteran wing was picked up from the Hornets at the end of September to provide some experience, and a moveable contract, to the Bulls' second unit, but while he's with Chicago, Hield's long-range shooting will help spread the floor for young building blocks like Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson. Hield's coming off a disappointing 2025-26 campaign split between Atlanta and Golden State, but prior to last season he hadn't shot below 36.6 percent from three-point range or averaged fewer than 2.2 treys in any of the prior eight seasons.

Wilson played 25 minutes in Sunday's preseason loss to the Nuggets, scoring 17 points (6-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-7 FT) and adding five assists, four rebounds and a block.

The rookie led Chicago's starting five in minutes and points, although he also committed a game-high five turnovers. Through three exhibition contests, Wilson is averaging 28.7 minutes, 17.7 points, 3.7 boards, 2.3 assists and 2.0 threes while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from beyond the arc, as he prepares for a significant role in the rotation to begin his NBA career.

Kalkbrenner finished with four points (2-2 FG) and five rebounds in 12 minutes during Sunday's 105-90 preseason win over Milwaukee.

Kalkbrenner continued what has been a modest preseason, doing very little to endear himself to fantasy managers. It appears as though Moussa Diabate will retain the starting center position heading into the regular season. This means Kalkbrenner is likely to be up against Hannes Steinbach for backup minutes, limiting his appeal across all formats. For those in deeper leagues, Kalkbrenner should be seen as a potential streaming option for blocks.

Schroder amassed three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 3Pt), four assists and three rebounds in 17 minutes during Sunday's 105-90 preseason win over the Bucks.

Schroder was given the starting nod, although he failed to make the most of his opportunity. Charlotte is dealing with multiple injuries to its backcourt, which could open the door for Schroder to play a meaningful role come opening night. While this, theoretically, puts him on the fantasy radar, experienced fantasy managers are well aware of who Schroder is as a player. Unless you are desperate for assists late in drafts, there are likely to be more appealing options available to you.

LeVert failed to score (0-3 FG, 0-2 FT), adding two assists, one rebound and one steal in 18 minutes during Sunday's preseason loss to the Hornets.

LeVert was barely noticeable in the loss, failing to score despite logging 18 minutes of playing time. Hypothetically, LeVert has the talent to provide Milwaukee with a valuable bench piece. However, it seems likely he could get lost in the mix when it comes to consistent playing time. Barring any news to the contrary, LeVert is not someone managers need to be targeting outside of deeper leagues.

Kuzma ended with 12 points (4-8 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes during Sunday's 105-90 preseason loss to Charlotte.

Kuzma was back in the starting lineup Sunday, ending with arguably his best performance of the preseason. For better or worse, it appears as though Kuzma could be a starting option for the Bucks come opening night. Having lost Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis during the offseason, Milwaukee will be hoping Kuzma can rediscover his form from a couple of seasons ago. For those in fantasy, he profiles as nothing more than a last-round flyer, based largely on the fact that he could play close to 30 minutes per game.

Turner recorded five points (2-7 FG, 1-5 3Pt), five blocks, two rebounds and one assist in 24 minutes during Sunday's 105-90 preseason loss to the Hornets.

Turner provided ample production on the defensive end, racking up a game-high five blocks. However, that's where the good news ends, following what was a poor shooting night. Coming off what was a terrible season last year, Turner is looking to reinvigorate his career. He warrants attention in the later rounds of drafts, based on his blocks upside alone. With that said, his peripheral numbers are typically less than ideal, which does limit his overall upside.